Game maker Valve left some fans disappointed last week when it failed to unveil an official Steambox, but a new trademark application may lift some gamers' spirits.

As reported by Polygon, Valve recently filed for the "Half-Life 3" trademark via the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market  the EU's trademark and designs registry.

Filed on Sept. 29, the document lists Valve Corporation as the trademark owner, but was filed by international patent and trademark firm Casalonga & Associates. Still under examination by the OHIM, Valve's application covers "downloadable computer game software via a global computer network and wireless devices," among other goods and services.

"I'm cautiously optimistic about what Valve is working on," PCMag analyst Will Greenwald said about the new Steam offerings. "And considering the gaming landscape, it's probably doing the best thing it could be doing by introducing new hardware."

Still, Greenwald was disappointed by what the recent announcements lacked: news of an official "Steambox" and word on Half-Life 3.

"But put that aside and look at what SteamOS and the Steam Machines might offer," he said. "Better yet, have a look at what the Steam Controller might offer first, because it shows exactly how Valve could have a huge success on its hands."

About the Author

Stephanie joined PCMag in May 2012, moving to New York City from Frederick, Md., where she worked for four years as a multimedia reporter at the second-largest daily newspaper in Maryland. She interned at Baltimore magazine and graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (in the town of Indiana, in the state of Pennsylvania) with a degree in ... See Full Bio

Get Our Best Stories!

This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.